President Pledges Investor Safeguards & Major Reforms at Economic Summit 📈

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced major private sector initiatives across port, energy, tax, and tech sectors during the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026. • Port & Infrastructure Development • Proposed private management of East Container Terminal (ECT) under State ownership to boost annual capacity from 500,000 TEUs to 3.2 million TEUs. • Seeking ~$1.4 Bn in multilateral funding (ADB supporting design phase) for a breakwater at West Container Terminal II (WCT II) to add 3.2 million TEUs capacity. • Fresh tender planned for Port of Colombo logistics centre (bonded warehousing, freight stations). • Cabinet approved a public-private partnership (PPP) container examination facility at Kerawalapitiya for ~150 containers. • Energy & Fuel Sector Outlook • Budget 2027 may reduce the 2.5% bunkering levy to improve regional competitiveness; proposed CPC-private partnership for JCT Oil Bank storage. • 75 new CPC stations planned; review of existing private fuel agreements (Lanka IOC, Sinopec) underway with the Attorney General. • Opening 4 grid lines to private participation; shifting toward floating solar parks (e.g., Ibbankatuwa project). • Allocated Rs. 60 Bn in fuel concessions and Rs. 41 Bn in targeted relief following economic challenges and Cyclone Ditwah. • Tax, Tech & Workforce Enhancement • Considering tax concessions for rural business investments to drive regional diversification. • Signing an agreement with Singapore to open a new ICT and AI training centre on Wijerama Mawatha to address critical skill gaps.